First, he told his players what was expected of them before they took the field for their first full-squad workout of the spring.

Later, Manuel sent a message to everybody else. In short, it went like this: Don’t ask any more questions about his contract, which expires at the end of the season.

In addressing his contract situation for what he said will be the final time, Manuel veered off into a defense of his managerial record, which includes five NL East titles, two NL pennants and a World Series title in eight years of leading the Phillies.

“This is the last time I’ll answer (questions) about my deal, OK?” Manuel said in a post-workout session with reporters. “I’m very satisfied with the way it is.

“This is my ninth year and I know the good things that we’ve had, and I should never have to sit and tell somebody what we’ve done, and I always give my players the credit for it and things like that. And I should never ever even have to answer what we’ve done.